The manner in which we partake of communion determines the outcome. If we take communion in faith, we are expecting the intended result of Life and Its attributes of strength, health, and wholeness.
Jesus spoke in John chapter 10:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life(zōē) and have it abundantly.
The word zōē means: Life of the absolute fulness of Life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through Him both to the distinct Essence of the Trinity expressed in the “Logos of The Word” and to Christ in Whom the “Logos” put on human nature; Life real and genuine, a Life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever. In other Words, The GOD Kind of Life!
When we properly take communion, His Life is expressed in us. Over the years, I took communion with much less understanding and without such results as we should expect. It was taught more as a ritual without much of an expectation of change. FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR great grace and mercy in my life! When treated as a ritual, our faith is not truly exercised in receiving His Body.
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 9:
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment,
21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will be made well.”
22 Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
And in verses:
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
28 When He entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”
31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Faith is essential to our healing and wholeness. In these two instances, they were healed while The Old Covenant was still in effect. Jesus was yet to go to the cross. Their faith operated because they believed in Jesus and heard The Word spoken by Him. The Word’s Life-giving power is not restricted to time. The Word contains the healing power within It.
Jesus also spoke to a Canaanite woman who was not one of the children of Israel in Matthew chapter 15:
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
23 But He did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 And He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
She had no covenant, yet she believed in Jesus Christ. She would not be denied healing for her daughter and Jesus responded to her faith. Faith is required for us to be healed. We must turn the ritual of communion into an expectation of Jesus’ imparted Life into us.